Tattooing isn’t ruined!

A lot of people talk about tattooing being ruined. I see it a lot on threads, people’s stories, or even in passive conversation. It’s always followed by the same bit:

“Ink master! Corporate greed! Ego.”

I don’t really disagree. I take a stance that TikTok had a lot to do with the most recent tattoo boom. But there is alot to be said for all of this.

A lot.

You can say, that the ones meant to find this path will. Those who will be successful, will.

A lot of tattooers complain about the industry being over saturated, and that things aren’t simply what they used to be. Blaming television and social media for corrupting this once-sacred practice. But you know what? A lot of us wouldn’t be here without it. I know I wouldn’t. And I know one thing for sure, that rolling my eyes, making a statement like that, for ME is disregarding the history of who I am, how I got here in my career, and all of the people I have tattooed along the way.

A lot of good in the tattooing world has happened too. People aren’t getting abused in their apprenticeships. Women artists like myself, finally can help cultivate spaces to help people heal and connect. We can feel safe.

Because of these silly shows, all tattooers have a future.

Maybe I am naive. Maybe you think I am romanticizing it all.

But I know the 12 year old me, basically homeless, ink master playing in the background while drawing and watching her whole world crumble, doesn’t. She is thankful. She is hopeful.

All of it, inspired her.

But this is just my life, and my opinion. We can acknowledge the hurt of what tv/social media/ has done to tattooing but we can’t ignore the good it’s done too. There is space for both.